Modular projector cage and stacked frame using same

Abstract

A modular projector cage for operably supporting an optical projector and for forming a stacked frame using another identical modular projector cage is disclosed. The modular projector cage has a rectangular hexahedral open frame. A mounting plate is connected to a bottom section of the frame by first and second articulated elevation assemblies connected to respective sides of the mounting plate adjacent the mounting plate front end, and by a yaw assembly rotatably connected to the mounting plate adjacent the back end. The first and second articulated elevation assemblies are independently adjustable to adjust the elevation at each side of the plate so that the pitch and roll of the mounting plate can be adjusted. The yaw assembly adjusts the amount of yaw, which causes articulated movement of the first and second articulated elevation assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular projector cage for operably supporting an optical projector, comprising:
 a rectangular hexahedral open frame having a bottom horizontal section; 
 a mounting plate operably disposed on the bottom horizontal section and configured to adjustably support the optical projector, the mounting plate having first and second opposite sides and front and rear ends; 
 first and second articulated elevation assemblies respectively operably connected to the mounting plate at the first and second opposite sides via respective first and second articulated mechanical connections each capable of articulated movement, the first and second articulated elevation assemblies being independently operable to adjust a pitch and a roll of the mounting plate; and 
 a yaw assembly operably connected to the mounting plate to provide a yaw adjustment, wherein the yaw adjustment causes the articulated movement of the first and second articulated mechanical connections; 
 wherein at least one of the first and second articulated elevation assemblies include a support arm and a support bracket, the support arm extending from the mounting plate and rotatably coupled to the support bracket, thereby defining a first hinge that allows for rotation of the support arm and the support bracket about a first axis, wherein the support bracket is rotatably coupled to the bottom horizontal section thereby defining a second hinge that allows the support bracket to rotate around a second axis that is offset from and parallel to the first axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The modular projector cage of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second articulated elevation assemblies and the yaw assembly are each configured to maintain the mounting plate in a select orientation via frictional resistive forces when the optical projector is mounted on the mounting plate. 
     
     
       3. The modular projector cage of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second articulated elevation assemblies respectively include first and second bearing assemblies that respectively include first and second threaded rods that threadedly connect to respective first and second recess brackets of the bottom horizontal section, wherein rotation of one or both of the first and second threaded rods causes a change in elevation of the front end of the mounting plate. 
     
     
       4. The modular projector cage of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate includes an open recess adjacent the rear end of the mounting plate, and wherein the yaw assembly includes:
 a cross-tube having an interior, proximal and distal ends and a slot generally midway between the proximal and distal ends; 
 a threaded rod that runs through the interior of the cross-tube to beneath the slot; 
 a knob connected to an end of the threaded rod so that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the threaded rod; 
 a mounting fixture that includes a tongue that extends into the slot and that includes a threaded aperture that threadedly engages the threaded rod, and that includes a stem that extends in a direction opposite the tongue; 
 a spherical bearing that resides within the open recess and that receives the stem so that the stem can rotate therein; 
 a bearing retainer that retains the spherical bearing to the mounting plate; and 
 wherein the rotation of the threaded rod causes the yaw adjustment. 
 
     
     
       5. The modular projector cage of  claim 1 , further comprising the optical projector mounted on the mounting plate. 
     
     
       6. The modulator projector cage of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom section is formed by bottom tubes connected by bottom corner fittings, and wherein the rectangular hexahedral open frame further includes:
 a top section formed by top tubes connected with top corner fittings; and 
 support tubes that space apart the top and bottom sections, wherein the support tubes each removably engage opposing ones of the top and bottom corner fittings. 
 
     
     
       7. The modular projector cage of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate has a centerline and the yaw assembly includes a third axis, further wherein the first and second axes are located between the centerline and the front end of the mounting plate, and the third axis is located between the centerline and the rear end of the mounting plate. 
     
     
       8. The modular projector cage of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm and support bracket extend laterally from the mounting plate. 
     
     
       9. The modular projector cage of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom horizontal section includes first and second side bars and front and rear bars, wherein, during normal use, the front end of the mounting plate and the first and second articulated elevation assemblies do not directly contact the front bar. 
     
     
       10. A stacked frame, comprising:
 the modular projector cage of  claim 1  as a first modular projector cage and another modular projector cage having rectangular hexahedral open frame and female connectors as a second modular projector cage; 
 wherein the first and second modular projector cages are arranged in a stacked configuration such that male connectors of the first modular projector cage operably engage the female connectors of the second modular projector cage; and 
 wherein retainer pins pass through the female connectors and engage the male connectors to releasably lock the respective rectangular hexahedral open frames of the first and second modular projector cages. 
 
     
     
       11. A modular projector cage for supporting an optical projector, comprising:
 a rectangular hexahedral open frame formed by tubes connected by corner fittings and having parallel top and bottom sections; 
 a projector mounting plate configured to support the optical projector and having opposite sides and opposite front and rear ends and a centerline; 
 first and second articulated elevation assemblies respectively mechanically connected to the opposite sides of the mounting plate at respective locations along the opposite sides between the centerline and the front end by respective first and second articulated mechanical connections each capable of articulated movement, and mechanically connected to the bottom section, the first and second articulated elevation assemblies being independently adjustable by respective first and second threaded rods to adjust an amount of pitch and an amount of roll of the mounting plate; and 
 a yaw assembly operably connected to the mounting plate at a location between the centerline and the rear end via a mounting fixture having a threaded portion that engages a third threaded rod such that rotation of the third threaded rod generates an amount of a yaw of the mounting plate; and 
 wherein generating the amount of yaw causes the articulated movement of the first and second articulated mechanical connections of the first and second articulated elevation assemblies; 
 further wherein at least one of the first and second articulated elevation assemblies include a support arm and a support bracket, the support arm extending from the mounting plate and rotatably coupled to the support bracket, thereby defining a first hinge that allows for rotation of the support arm and the support bracket about a first axis, wherein the support bracket is rotatably coupled to the bottom section thereby defining a second hinge that allows the support bracket to rotate around a second axis that is offset from and parallel to the first axis. 
 
     
     
       12. The modular projector cage of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second articulated elevation assemblies and the yaw assembly are each configured to maintain the mounting plate in a select orientation via frictional resistive forces when the optical projector is mounted on the mounting plate. 
     
     
       13. The modular projector cage of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second articulated elevation assemblies respectively include first and second bearing assemblies, the first and second threaded rods threadedly connecting the first and second bearing assemblies to respective first and second recess brackets of the tubes of the bottom section. 
     
     
       14. The modular projector cage of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting plate includes an open recess adjacent the rear end of the mounting plate, and wherein the yaw assembly includes:
 a cross-tube having an interior, proximal and distal ends, and a slot generally midway between the proximal and distal ends; 
 wherein the third threaded rod runs through the interior of the cross-tube to beneath the slot; 
 a knob connected to an end of the third threaded rod such that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the third threaded rod; 
 a stem that upwardly extends from a base of the mounting fixture; 
 a spherical bearing that resides within the open recess and that receives the stem so that the stem can rotate therein; 
 a bearing retainer that retains the spherical bearing to the mounting plate; and 
 wherein the rotation of the third threaded rod generates said amount of yaw adjustment. 
 
     
     
       15. The modular projector cage of  claim 11 , further comprising the optical projector mounted on the mounting plate. 
     
     
       16. A stacked frame, comprising:
 the modular projector cage of  claim 11  as a first modular projector cage and another modular projector cage having a rectangular hexahedral open frame and female connectors as a second modular projector cage; 
 wherein the first and second modular projector cages are arranged in a stacked configuration such that the male connectors of the first modular projector cage operably engage the female connectors of the second modular projector cage; and 
 wherein retainer pins pass through the female connectors and engage the male connectors to releasably lock the respective rectangular hexahedral open frames of the first and second modular projector cages.